Dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for distributing printed slips or tickets are disclosed that are obtained from a continuous strip of material, in which the strip is cut by a stationary blade when the user tensions the strip by pulling an end thereof; a driven dragging roller that makes the strip advance in an intermittent manner, is interrupted if a sensor detects that the strip is tensioned to be cut.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing receipts,slips or tickets from a continuous strip of material.

Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention can be used in adispensing apparatus for dispensing receipts, slips or tickets locatedin a public place, for example a self-service fuel dispenser thatautomatically generates a payment receipt for the customer.

The invention can be advantageously applied in any situation in which itis necessary to separate, intermittently, receipts, slips or ticketsfrom a relatively long continuous strip.

In particular, the present invention refers to a dispensing apparatusmade in accordance with the preamble of the first claim.

Such a dispensing apparatus is already known, from example from patentpublication US 2006/0210344.

One of the problems of known cutting apparatuses of this type is tocoordinate the intermittent advancement of the strip, necessary for theissuing of the ticket, slip or receipt, with tensioning of the strip,which is necessary for the stationary blade to be able to cut the endportion of the strip that will form the ticket, slip or receipt.

In particular, there is the risk that the strip of paper is tensionedwhen the driven advancement means of the strip is still active. Thiscould cause different drawbacks, such as, for example, an irregular cutof the ticket and/or an entanglement of the strip and/or incorrectprinting of the ticket and/or failure to dispense the subsequent ticket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide a solution to the aforesaidproblem of the prior art.

One advantage is to ensure regular advancement and/or printing and/orcutting of the strip.

One advantage is to make a dispensing apparatus that is usable inparticular in a dispenser of tickets or receipts starting from acontinuous strip of material, which is able to ensure regular andorderly movement of the strip.

One advantage is to prevent entanglement of the strip and/or incorrectprinting of the ticket.

One advantage is to give rise to a constructionally simple and cheapdispensing apparatus.

Such objects and advantages and still others are achieved by theapparatus, by the use and by the method according to one or more of theclaims set out below.

In one example, a dispensing apparatus comprises: driven supply meansarranged for making a strip of material advance along a preset path;sensor means that is able to send a signal indicating a strip tensioningsituation (for cutting a ticket or receipt); (electronic) control meansthat, in response to this signal, interrupts (immediately) anyadvancement of the strip by the supply means.

In one example, a method comprises the steps of: providing a stationaryblade along a supply path of a continuous strip of material; separatinga receipt or ticket from the strip by a cut with the stationary bladewhen the strip is tensioned, for example by a user who pulls an endthereof; interrupting driven supply means, which make the strip advance,if a sensor detects that the strip has been tensioned to be cut by thestationary blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference tothe attached drawings that illustrate one embodiment by way ofnon-limiting example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram in a vertical elevation of one embodiment of theapparatus in question.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a different operatingconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the above figures, with 1 overall a dispensingapparatus has been indicated comprising a housing 2 having an outlet 3from which a user can receive a strip 4 of material, in particular papermaterial or material similar to paper. The housing 2 is intended, inparticular, to contain the various elements of the apparatus that willbe disclosed below. The housing 2 may have, for example, a substantiallybox shape. The outlet 3 may comprise, for example, a slit (arrangedhorizontally in length) that is suitable for the passage of the strip 4and is obtained in an outlet mouth arranged on a front wall of adispenser of tickets and/or receipts.

The dispensing apparatus 1 is used, in particular, for separating,intermittently, receipts, tickets, or similar objects (for example areceipt or ticket printed in real time, at the request of a user, justbefore cutting) from a continuous strip of relatively long material.

The dispensing apparatus 1 may be used in combination with a printingdevice as part of a distributor or dispenser of receipts and/or ticketsprinted from a continuous strip (made of paper or similar material).

The dispensing apparatus 1 may be used, for example, in a dispensingapparatus for dispensing receipts and/or tickets that is located in apublic place. In the case in point the dispensing apparatus 1 is used ina self-service fuel dispenser that automatically generates a paymentreceipt for the customer.

In the specific example the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a supplypath 5 of the continuous strip. This path 5 will be at least partiallyarranged inside the housing 2. The strip may advance to the outlet 3guided to follow the supply path 5. The continuous strip 4 will be, inparticular, guided by guiding means comprising, for example, fixed(shaped) guiding walls that convey the strip. On the path 5 rollerguiding means (of known type) may be possibly arranged. In particular,the continuous strip may be fed from a magazine R (for example a roll ora reel) that may be housed inside the housing 2.

The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a stationary blade 6 arranged forcutting the strip 4 along the supply path 5. In particular, thestationary blade 6 will be arranged upstream (with reference to anadvancement direction of the strip along the path 5) of the outlet 3.The stationary blade 6 may have a cutting edge (for example of serratedor other type) extending transversely (perpendicularly) to theadvancement direction of the strip 4 (in particular, to the advancementdirection that the strip will have at the blade 6). The supply path 5 ofthe strip may comprise, at the stationary blade 6, a curve with theinner side facing the blade 6. The stationary blade 6 may comprise aflat body, for example with a laminar shape, having the aforesaidcutting edge.

The dispensing apparatus 1 may further comprise supply means forsupplying the strip intermittently along the supply path 5. Inparticular the supply means will be arranged for making the stripadvance until at least one end thereof emerges from the outlet 3. Thisend can, in particular, be grasped by the user to pull and thus tensionthe strip to have the ticket or receipt separated by means of thestationary blade 6. Cutting the strip 4 to separate the receipt or theticket may in fact be caused by the user, who tensions the strip bypulling the end thereof that exits the outlet.

The supply means may be arranged, as in this example, along the supplypath 5 upstream of the blade 6, in such a manner that the supply meansis not able to tension the strip downstream of the blade. In the case inpoint there are no strip advancement or dragging means arrangeddownstream of the blade 6, i.e. arranged between the blade 6 and theoutlet 3 of the strip 4.

The supply means may comprise, as in the example disclosed here, aprinting device (in particular a thermal printing device) having atleast one strip advancement roller 7. In the case in point, the printingdevice further comprises a (thermal) printing head 8 cooperating withand opposite the advancement roller 7. The strip 4 will pass, withintermittent (controlled) motion, between the (thermal) printing head 8and the advancement roller 7, to print the receipt or ticket (in realtime).

The printing device will be controlled by a (programmable) centralprocessing unit CPU that will guide the intermittent advancement of thestrip 4, in particular during the printing step.

The dispensing apparatus 1 may comprise, as in this example, apaper-finished sensor 9, for example a sensor without contact (optical,electromagnetic or other type of sensor). In the case in point, thepaper-finished sensor 9 comprises a photocell. The paper-finished sensor9 may be arranged between the stationary blade 6 and the outlet 3.

The apparatus 1 comprises at least one movable element 10 arranged forbeing moved by the strip 4 when the strip is tensioned (for example by auser, as in this case, or by tensioning means, in particular ofmechanical type, in other examples), for being cut. The movable element10 is capable of taking on at least one first normal rest position andat least one second position that is moved with respect to the firstposition.

When the strip portion 4 arranged downstream of the blade 6 is nottensioned, the movable element 10 will be in the first normal restposition (FIG. 1). When the strip portion 4 arranged downstream of theblade 6 is tensioned to separate the ticket by cutting the blade 6, thetaut strip 4 will push the movable element 10 towards the secondposition (FIG. 2).

The movable element 10 may be arranged upstream of the stationary blade6 (with reference to the advancement of the strip 4). In the case inpoint the movable element 10 is arranged contiguously alongside thestationary blade 6. In other examples, which are not shown, the movableelement could be arranged far from the stationary blade 6.

The movable element 10 may be suitable for performing a rectilinearmovement, as in the illustrated example, parallel to a lying planedefined by at least one part of the stationary blade 6 (in particular aflat blade part, for example of laminar shape, that has the cuttingedge). In other examples, which are not shown, the movable element mayperform an oscillating movement, for example a rotation around a hingeor round a rotation pivot.

The apparatus 1 may comprise elastic means 11 (for example at least onespring) operating in contrast with the movement of the movable element10 performed by the tensioned strip 4. The elastic means will bring themovable element 10 in the first normal rest position after the stripportion (ticket or receipt) has been separated by the blade 6, so thatthe strip 4 is no longer taut.

The movable element 10 may be supported by the aforesaid elastic means11. The elastic means could comprise, in other examples that are notillustrated, an elastic hinge, an elastic lamina, an elasticallydeformable portion of the same movable element, etc.

The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises sensor means to detect the movementof the movable element 10 performed by the strip 4 tensioned to be cut.This sensor means may comprise, in particular, a proximity sensor or asensor detecting the presence/absence of the movable element 10. Thissensor means may comprise, as in the specific example, a contactlesssensor 12 (optical sensor, electromagnetic sensor, etc) operationallyassociated with the movable element 10 or with the elastic means 11. Inparticular, the contactless sensor 12 may comprise a photocelloperationally associated with the movable element 10.

In one example that is not illustrated, the movable element couldcomprise an electric switch or pushbutton that can be moved by the stripfrom a first normal rest position (for example an open switch orpushbutton position) to a second position (for example a closed switchor pushbutton position) in which it is pressed by the tensioned strip.In this case, the sensor means may comprise, for example, an electriccontact that is opened or closed according to the position (first orsecond) of the switch or pushbutton and which can send a correspondingopening or closing signal.

The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises control means (in particular ofelectronic type) configured for controlling the supply means (inparticular the printing device having the strip dragging roller 7) inresponse to signals received from the sensor means (sensor 12). Suchcontrol means comprises means for interrupting the advancement of thestrip 4 by the aforesaid supply means when the sensor means (sensor 12)detects the movement of the movable element 10 performed by the strip 4that has been tensioned to be cut. In the case in point the controlmeans comprises the central processing unit CPU which will be providedwith the aforesaid means for interrupting that stops the advancementmeans of the strip as soon as the strip is tensioned.

The aforesaid central processing unit may be programmable and theaforesaid interrupting means may comprise programme instructions thatcan be implemented by the control unit. Such programme instructions willimplement a method for dispensing receipts or tickets that comprises atleast the following steps: activating the driven supply means to supply(intermittently, in particular if a ticket or receipt is requested by auser) the continuous strip 4 of material along the supply path 5;detecting (by receiving a signal from the sensor means) the movement ofthe movable element 10 that is moved by the strip when the strip istensioned to be cut; interrupting the supply means if it is detectedthat, at the movement of the movable element 10, the supply means isstill active, so as to stop immediately the supply of the strip 4 toprevent the driven advancement of the strip simultaneously with thecutting of the ticket or receipt.

In use, when the user pulls the strip end that protrudes outside theoutlet 3 (after the printing device has printed a strip portion), thestrip is tensioned (to separate a ticket or receipt by cutting the stripportion 4 by the blade 6) and consequently the movable element 10 islowered by the strip, which pushes the movable element 10 contrastingwith the elastic means connected to the movable element. If, during thisstep of separating the ticket or receipt from the strip 4, the strip isstill dragged forwards by the supply means (roller 7), the centralprocessing unit CPU will immediately stop this supply means (roller 7),so as to ensure that the strip, whilst it is tensioned (downstream ofthe stationary blade 6), it is not simultaneously dragged forwards bydriven supply means (upstream of the stationary blade 6).

Owing to the fact that the apparatus in question envisages thissituation (i.e. simultaneity of tensioning and driven advancement of thestrip), the operation of the apparatus is safe, regular and reliable: inparticular cutting is precise and complete, the formation ofentanglements and jams is prevented, the issuing of the subsequentticket is guaranteed, the printing of the ticket is correct.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing receipts, slips or tickets from a continuous strip of material, comprising: a housing having an outlet; a supply path at least partially arranged within said housing to supply a strip of material to said outlet; a driven supply device for advancing the strip advance along said supply path; a stationary blade arranged in said supply path for cutting the strip when the strip is tensioned; at least one movable element moved by the strip when the strip is tensioned to be cut; a sensor for detecting a movement of said movable element performed by the strip tensioned for being cut; and a control device for controlling said supply device in response to signals received from said sensor; wherein said control device includes a device for interrupting advancement of the strip by said supply device when said sensor detects the movement of said movable element by the tensioned strip.
 17. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said supply device advances the strip along said path until an end thereof exits said outlet, cutting of the strip being activated by a user who tensions the strip by pulling an end of the strip that exits said outlet.
 18. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said supply device is arranged along said path upstream of said stationary blade without tensioning the strip downstream of said stationary blade.
 19. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, and further comprising an elastic element operating in opposition to the movement of said movable element by the strip.
 20. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said supplying device comprises a printing device having at least one strip advancement roller.
 21. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said control device comprises an electronic control unit provided with said arrangement for interrupting.
 22. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said electronic control unit is programmable and said interrupting device comprises programming instructions that are implementable by said control unit.
 23. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said movable element is arranged upstream of said stationary blade.
 24. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said movable element is arranged contiguously alongside said stationary blade.
 25. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said movable element performs a rectilinear movement that is parallel to a plane defined by at least a flat part of said stationary blade that has a cutting edge.
 26. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said movable element has an edge that extends adjacent a cutting edge of said stationary blade.
 27. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said movable element adopts a protruding position wherein at least one part of said edge protrudes beyond said cutting edge, and a recessing position wherein said at least one part of said edge is recessed relative to said cutting edge, said movable element normally being in said protruding position and being pushed by the strip from said protruding position to said recessing position when the strip is tensioned.
 28. A method for dispensing printed receipts or tickets from a continuous strip of paper or material similar to paper using an apparatus according to claim
 16. 29. A method for dispensing receipts or tickets from a continuous strip of material comprising the steps of: activating a motor-driven supply device to supply a continuous strip of material along a supply path; tensioning the strip; cutting the strip with a stationary blade arranged in said path; detecting the movement of a movable element that is moved by the strip when the strip is tensioned; and interrupting the supply device if the movement of said movable element is detected when said supply device is still active to stop the supply of said strip.
 30. Method according to claim 29, wherein the strip is cut by the user who tensions the strip by pulling an end thereof. 